Published: Saturday, September 21, 2013 at 11:24 AM.

The ceremony and candlelight vigil at Onslow Vietnam Veterans Memorial honored those who endured captivity during war — and those who never returned, whose bodies may still lie in foreign lands.

“It’s especially important for my kids to know what their grandfather went through during his captivity,” said Lily Hunter-Deffenbaugh, whose father was the event’s guest speaker and an ex-prisoner of war.

Her children were at her side.

“Kids see their parents put on a uniform every day and they need to realize there is a sacrifice that goes along with that,” she said. “It’s days like today that honor that sacrifice.”

Her father, retired Marine Guy Hunter Jr., was captive more than a month during Operation Desert Storm.

The ceremony and candlelight vigil at Onslow Vietnam Veterans Memorial honored those who endured captivity during war — and those who never returned, whose bodies may still lie in foreign lands.

“It’s especially important for my kids to know what their grandfather went through during his captivity,” said Lily Hunter-Deffenbaugh, whose father was the event’s guest speaker and an ex-prisoner of war.

Her children were at her side.

“Kids see their parents put on a uniform every day and they need to realize there is a sacrifice that goes along with that,” she said. “It’s days like today that honor that sacrifice.”

Her father, retired Marine Guy Hunter Jr., was captive more than a month during Operation Desert Storm.

Hunter described his experience and rallied for the return of all prisoners of war and those who are missing in action.

More than 100 people attended the ceremony.

Hunter-Deffenbaugh said the event gave insight into the worst condition a service member could face.

“Some of these guys rotted in prison cells and never got to see their families again,” Hunter-Deffenbaugh said. “There’s a POW out there right now who will never see his loved ones again. That’s unacceptable.”

Hunter smiled as he stood behind the crowd shortly before his speech.

He said he was pleased by the turnout.

“We can never forget,” Hunter said. “If we forget, then we have given up on every person who has ever worn a uniform.”

Alex Nevgloski, 67, of Hubert and a retired chief warrant officer stared intently at the Missing Man Table. Nevgloski said he was fulfilling an obligation by attending the ceremony.

“These guys who never came home, or came home after being POW’s, should be recognized,” Nevgloski said. “I hope that by holding this ceremony we are doing right by them.”

Nevgloski pointed to names of friends and family inscribed on the memorial’s wall,

“These men — these POW’s gave more than most,” Nevgloski said. “I hope that people who see this ceremony hold the memory of the POW’s and MIA’s in their heart and never forget even after the last one comes home.”

For the local chapter of Rolling Thunder, hosting the ceremony was a calling, said Vice-President Michael Brown, 50, of Jacksonville.

“There are still 41 POW’s missing from the Vietnam War,” Brown said. “Any time we can educate the public on that is important to us and hope it means a lot to those still not home.”

Brown said some are unfamiliar with POW’s such as Bowe Bergdahl, a soldier in captivity who served in Operation Enduring Freedom.

He said it’s important for people to know that missing and captive soldiers still are out there,

“There are still families with no closure — families who haven’t had their loved one brought back to American soil,” Brown said. “They may never have answers and that is unacceptable.”